Campbell outlines plan for 2020 Olympics

Top national cyclist Teniel Campbell is looking ahead to the 2018 season, after she completed her 2017 campaign with a pair of gold medals at the Elite Women’s Caribbean Road Cycling Championships in Martinique.

The 20-year-old Campbell returned home yesterday with two trophies – the individual time trial and the women’s road race.

“This is the end of my season,” she said, during an interview at the VIP Lounge, Piarco International Airport. “Right now (I am looking ahead to) the Commonwealth Games and CAC Games, as well as Pan American Championships, and to get the required points to attend the World Cup, which would further qualify me to attend the World Championships, which would also help with points for the Olympics in 2020.” Looking back at her weekend’s exploits, Campbell said, “It was pretty good. A little hectic to get there but my manager Desmond Roberts of the PSL Cycling Club backed me 100 (percent) and made the trip happen.”

The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) student noted, “The competition this year was more intense compared to a couple other years. The road race was actually before the time trial this year.

“(There were) about 21 cyclists competing in the Caribbean Championships. I just had to think it through, stay calm and patient and, in the end, it paid off, and I managed to win the double gold.”

Reflecting on her 2017 season, Campbell said, “This year I can say that I somewhat achieved most of my goals. One of my goals was to medal at the Pan American Championships but, unfortunately, that didn’t happen. So I look forward to achieving that status next year.”